My trials, tribulation and progress in designing and building a handcycle, at home, out of carbon fiber.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Somewhat Finished Fork

The fork is much closer to completion. I have added a coat of epoxy over the last layer of carbon fiber. This epoxy is still wet in the picture below. BTW, I find that the epoxy brushes on much more easily with a small amount of acetone added to it. This thins the epoxy for brushing -- but acetone evaporates very quickly. So if one attempts to brush the epoxy too much, one will find it to thicken within just a few brush strokes. From what I read on West Systems epoxy, this seems acceptable for a finish.

Front Fork -- with a finish coat of epoxy.

As you might remember, I had said that I would probably finish the bike with paint and not take the time to get a nice finish on the carbon fiber. But, carbon fiber has an attraction -- and maybe this is the lipstick on a pig.

I will shoot some more pictures that display the idler on the drive side as well as the fork thickness at a later point -- the epoxy is curing!